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Israelis, Palestinians await William's inaugural royal visit

by Aron Heller, The Associated Press

Posted Jun 23, 2018 8:39 am MST

Last Updated Jun 23, 2018 at 9:20 am MST

FILE - In this Jan. 18, 2018 file photo, Britain's Prince William, laughs while with military veterans now working for the National Health Service as he visits Evelina London Children's Hospital in London. Prince William is set to arrive in Israel and the Palestinian territories, for the first official visit of a member of the British royal family, ending the monarchy's decades-long mostly hands-off approach to one of the world's most sensitive spots. The prince kicks off his Middle East visit Sunday, June 24 in Jordan, before arriving in Jerusalem on Monday. (AP Photo/Daniel Leal Olivas, Pool)

JERUSALEM – Prince William is set to arrive in Israel and the Palestinian territories this week for the first official visit of a member of the British royal family, ending the monarchy’s decades-long mostly hands-off approach to one of the world’s most sensitive regions.

Though the trip is being billed as non-political, and places a special emphasis on technology and joint Israeli-Arab projects, the Duke of Cambridge will also be meeting with the Israeli and Palestinian leaders and visiting landmark Jerusalem sites at the heart of the century-old conflict.

The prince kicks off his Middle East visit Sunday in Jordan where we will meet refugees from the civil war in neighbouring Syria and tour the famous archaeological site at Jerash, where his wife, the former Catherine Middleton, once visited when her family lived in Jordan.

On Monday he will arrive in Israel and stay in Jerusalem’s King David Hotel, the elegant British-era edifice. From there he will visit coastal Tel Aviv, Israel’s financial and cultural capital, and Ramallah in the West Bank, seat of the Palestinian autonomy government. On the docket are scheduled meetings with young entrepreneurs, visits to Israel’s vibrant tech and media sectors and meetings with young Jewish and Arab football players.

Kensington Palace, William’s official residence, said the visit was aimed “to meet as many people from as many walks of life as possible — and use the spotlight that his visit will bring to celebrate their hopes for the future.”

But politics have already seeped into the agenda. The royal itinerary mentioned Jerusalem as being part of “the Occupied Palestinian Territories,” angering Israeli politicians. Jerusalem Affairs Minister Zeev Elkin — who is running for mayor of the city in this year’s elections — called the reference a “distortion” that cannot “change reality.”

Israel captured east Jerusalem from Jordan in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed it in a move not internationally recognized. Israel considers the city, home to holy sites sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims and the emotional epicenter of the conflict, as an inseparable part of its capital. The Palestinians claim east Jerusalem as a future capital.

Britain has deep roots in the region, having governed Palestine from 1920 to 1948 under a League of Nations mandate. But it has since taken a back seat to the United States in matters of mediating war and peace efforts. The royal family has mostly steered clear of politics.

One way of doing so has been to avoid any official visits. William’s father, Prince Charles, attended the 2016 funeral of former Israeli President Shimon Peres but in a private capacity. During that trip, the heir to the throne paid a low-key visit to the grave of his grandmother, Princess Alice. William will also visit her final resting place in Jerusalem’s Church of St. Mary Magdalene above the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives.

The prince will also visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, where his great-grandmother is recognized as a Righteous Among the Nations for her role in rescuing Jews during the Holocaust.

Princess Alice, the mother of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, hid three members of the Cohen family in her palace in Athens during the Nazi occupation of Greece in World War II. Thanks to her, the Cohen family survived and today lives in France. The princess died in 1969 and in 1988 her remains were brought to Jerusalem. In a 1994 visit to Yad Vashem, Prince Philip planted a tree there in her honour.

Unlike his father and grandfather, Prince William will be arriving in Jerusalem at the request of Her Majesty’s government. As such, he’ll be meeting with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Both sides seem to be looking forward to the first-ever royal visit.

Though William is not expected to comment on the long-standing conflict and stalled peace talks, his visit is being lauded by Palestinians as recognition of their occupied status.

In Israel, many are excitedly awaiting the pomp and pageantry that accompanies the visit of the second in line to the throne. At the King David Hotel — the site of a lethal bombing by Jewish nationalists in 1946 against the British administrative headquarters that left 91 dead during the lead-up to Israel’s fight for independence — preparations are already underway. Prince Charles also stayed at the hotel and his signature is among those of many dignitaries adorning the walkway into the lobby of the hotel.

Sheldon Ritz, the hotel’s director of operations, said he has yet to receive the prince’s preferred menu but will encourage his staff to have him try the local cuisine of homemade hummus, tahini and falafel.

“I’m sure he’ll love that and we’re bringing in the best quality tea from England and we’re going to offer scones and clotted cream and strawberry jam. So hopefully they’ll have a bit of England here as well,” he said.

Ritz said the staff was also instructed about the proper etiquette regarding the royal guest.

“You have to bow your head, you can’t initiate any handshakes. The prince, if he wants to shake your hand, he’ll initiate it and you say: ‘Your royal highness,'” he explained. “Every time you meet him after that it’s ‘sir’ … I’ll do the orientation of the suite and I’ll try to be as diplomatic as possible. Not too much small talk.”